Education Benefits Information for Activated Guard Soldiers Mobilization Checklist 1. Notify the school and your professor/instructor that you have been activated and present the appropriate administrator with a copy of your orders. 2. Be sure to make contact either in person, via telephone, or email with acknowledgement. Leaving a voicemail or email message, without an acknowledgement, is insufficient because further information may be required. 3. Keep a record of names, dates, individuals, and a brief summary of your conversations with the school and lending institution. 4. Notify your school's VA counselor that you have been activated and present your activation orders. Discuss the appropriate course of action with the VA Counselor. 5. Contact your student loan lender. It is your responsibility to follow through with any procedure the lender indicates. 6. Call your Education Office. If you encounter any problems resolving your academic status, request assistance from your Education Services Officer. Note: To ensure proper credit and to prevent any financial loss to the Soldier, these steps must be completed prior to departure. Montgomery GI Bill and Student Loan Information for Activated Guard-Reservists 7. Soldiers in receipt of Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits who are forced to withdraw from school for activation purposes will have their entitlements restored for the period of the term completed. For example, if a Soldier began school in September and was called to active duty in November, the months of September and October will not count against their entitlement. 8. You must notify your school s VA Certifying Official that you are being activated. Provide a copy of your orders to these school officials. If you do not officially withdraw from school and notify the VA counselor, you will not be able to recoup the months of entitlements lost and may be subject to financial liability. A sample letter is attached. 9. If you have a student loan, notify your lender that you have been activated. Lenders of Direct Loans, FFEL Loans, and Perkins Loans will postpone the student loan payments of borrowers during the period of the borrower's active duty service. Borrowers with subsidized student loans will be eligible to have the federal government assume the interest payments on their loans while they are on military duty. The U.S. Department of Education website contains information and guidelines regarding loan relief for persons affected by military mobilization. https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/deferment-forbearance 10. Any activated soldier receiving Federal Tuition Assistance should notify GoArmyEd.com and the FTA Manager or Education Services Officer at (401) 275-4143 or (609) 562-0975.
New Jersey Permanent Statutes (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us) TITLE 18A EDUCATION 18A:62-4.1. Resident tuition for military personnel United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey shall be regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. L. 1985, c. 231, s. 1, eff. July 11, 1985. 18A:62-4.2. Options for student at public institution of higher education unable to complete course due to military service 1. a. A student at a New Jersey public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course because the student is called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty as a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be entitled to the options set forth in this section with respect to the student's grade for the course. b. A student who has completed at least eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to: (1) receive a letter grade; or (2) receive a grade of pass or fail; or (3) receive a grade of incomplete; or (4) withdraw from the course. c. A student who has completed less than eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to: (1) receive a grade of incomplete; or (2) withdraw from the course. d. A letter grade or a grade of pass shall only be awarded if, in the opinion of the faculty member teaching the course, the student has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. e. A grade of incomplete shall remain valid for a period of one year after the student returns to the New Jersey public institution of higher education. f. A student who chooses to accept a grade of pass or fail may, within one year after returning to the New Jersey public institution of higher education, receive a letter grade for the course by completing the work required for the course, in which case the letter grade shall replace the pass or fail grade as the student's grade for the course. g. A student who chooses to withdraw from a course shall receive a full refund of tuition and fees attributable to that course. h. A student who has paid amounts for room, board or fees shall, except as provided in subsection g. of this section, receive a refund of that portion of those amounts attributable to the time period during which the student did not use the services for which payment was made. i. Any refund payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient shall be subject to the applicable State and federal regulations regarding refunds. L.1997,c.377,s.1.
Date Name of College College Address Dear College Administrator: I,, SSN: request cancellation of my school term: enrollment and that all charges incurred be waived for this term. The reason for this request is the activation of my New Jersey Army National Guard (NJARNG) unit: for reason for mobilization:. A copy of my order to active duty is attached. New Jersey Permanent Statutes 18A:62-4.2 specifies that A student who has completed at least eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to: (1) receive a letter grade; or (2) receive a grade of pass or fail; or (3) receive a grade of incomplete; or (4) withdraw from the course. A student who has completed less than eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to: (1) receive a grade of incomplete; or (2) withdraw from the course. A copy of this law is attached. In accordance with this law I choose to: (check one) receive a letter grade receive a grade of pass or fail receive a grade of incomplete withdraw from the course To discuss this request please contact the NJARNG Education Services Officer at (609) 562-0975. Thank you for your assistance in this matter and I hope to return to classes as soon as I am released from active duty. Sincerely, Soldier's Signature Enclosures: Soldier's Orders N.J.S. 18A:62-4.2 Printed Name of Soldier Soldier's Address LETTER TO COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR
Date Name of Lender Lender's Address Dear Loan Administrator: I,, SSN: have been ordered to active duty for reason for mobilization:. A copy of my order to duty is attached. I request that my student loan(s) if in an in-school status, an in-school deferment status, or in a grace period status remain in that status during my period of active duty. I also request the appropriate time for me to resume enrollment in the next regular enrollment period that is available. If my loan(s) are in a repayment status, I request forbearance for the period indicated on my attached orders. Should you have any questions please contact the Student Loan Repayment Manager or NJARNG Education Services Officer, at (609) 562-0429, or (609) 562-0975. Sincerely, Soldier's Signature Enclosure: Soldier's Orders New Jersey Army National Guard Printed Name of Soldier Soldier's Street Address CF: Unit NJARNG Education Center 3650 Saylors Pond Road Fort Dix, NJ 08640 LETTER TO LENDER
New Jersey Permanent Statutes (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us) TITLE 18A EDUCATION 18A:62-24 Tuition benefits for members of New Jersey National Guard; State payment. a. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard shall be permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State enumerated in N.J.S.18A:62-1 and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that: (1) the member has completed Initial Active Duty Training and, except as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section, is in good standing as an active member of the New Jersey National Guard; (2) the member has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution; (3) the member has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the member is eligible; and (4) the member has applied for tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the member is eligible under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L. 110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.), except that such application shall not be required in the case of a tuition benefit transfer by the member as permitted by federal law. b. The State shall reimburse a public institution of higher education for the tuition cost of each National Guard member who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the provisions of this section to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through tuition benefits available to the member through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L. 110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.). c. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard whose enrollment in a public institution of higher education on a tuition-free basis pursuant to subsection a. of this section is interrupted by a deployment to active duty shall be permitted to receive the free tuition benefit after discharge from service under conditions other than dishonorable. In the event of a non-medical discharge or a medical discharge that is not caused by an illness or injury related to the performance of duties for the National Guard, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin from the date of discharge and shall continue for one semester or a period of time equal to the length of the deployment, whichever is longer. In the event of medical discharge or medical retirement as a result of illness or injury incurred in the combat theater, as a result of terrorist action, or in the response to a natural disaster, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin from the date of discharge or retirement and shall continue until completion of the degree program in which enrolled or for five years, whichever occurs first. Amended 2001, c.9, s.1; 2001, c.427; 2007, c.11, s.1; 2009, c.208, s.1. 18A:62-24.1 Nonresident tuition rate for NJ National Guard members prohibited. 1. No public institution of higher education in this State shall impose a nonresident tuition rate or differential fee on a member of the New Jersey National Guard, if the member meets the criteria set forth in section 21 of P.L.1999, c.46 (C.18A:62-24). L.2005,c.317,s.1. 18A:62-27 Other fees payable. 24. Nothing in sections 20 through 25 of this act shall preclude a public institution of higher education from requiring the payment of other fees, subject to approval by the State Treasurer, for individuals attending courses pursuant to the provisions of sections 20 through 25 of this act. L.1999,c.46,s.24.
DEFINITIONS: The term "activation" refers to the involuntary or voluntary call to active duty in support of a contingency of a Reserve component member under the provision of 10USC 12301(a) (Full Mobilization), 10USC 12301(d) (Voluntary Active Duty), 10USC 12302 (Partial Mobilization), or 10USC 12304 (Presidential Reserve Callup). It does NOT apply to members on full-time active duty (AGR/FTS/AR), members serving in full-time National Guard Duty, or members serving on State Active Duty. The term "deployment" refers to the movement of a member, or unit, for duty purposes to a location that would be considered outside normal commuting distance or time from the member's permanent duty station (i.e., the location where the member normally performs Inactive Duty Training [IDT drill]). Deployments can be to a location within the contiguous 48 states (CONUS) or to a location outside the contiguous 48 states (OCONUS). Stop-loss: A program which allows the Military Services to suspend provisions of law relating to retirement and separation of military personnel deemed essential to national security during a period when Reserve component personnel are involuntarily ordered to active duty under 12301, 12302, or 12304 of Title 10, United States Code. Current Army stop-loss policy suspends such personnel actions for a period of up to 90 days after the end of the mobilization period. Eligibility for Veterans to utilize the New Jersey National Guard Tuition (waiver) Program after discharge from military service (National Guard discharge) IAW NJ Statute 18A:62-24 subsection c.: SAMPLE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS 1. New Jersey National Guard member attending a Public Institution of Higher Education and using the NJNGTP or receiving full financial aid. 2. NJNG member receives a mobilization order 3. NJNG member notifies school administrators of mobilization orders and withdraws from classes (see NJ Statute 18A:62-4.2 Options for student at public institution of higher education unable to complete course due to military service ) 4. NJNG member is activated and deploys 5. NJNG member returns from deployment and released from Active Duty (under conditions other than dishonorable) with DD Form 214. (This is not a National Guard discharge, but establishes the amount of time on Active Duty for mobilization and character of discharge from Active Duty). 6. NJNG member is later discharged from the NJNG based upon ETS (Expiration of Term of Service) or based on a medical discharge. Discharge from the NJNG produces a NGB Form 22. 7. Any time spent on Active Duty for mobilization equals amount of time authorized to use the NJNGTP after discharge from the NJNG. (see NJ Statute 18A:62-24 subsection c.)